Just Nan

There's not much to say.  Work has picked up a little bit, but not a lot, so I still have a lot of down time.  I've been reading and surfing the Internet and playing Pyramid Solitaire.  And working where applicable. 

The kids are safely in Ohio.  Sara called on Monday morning to tell me that she loved me and when I asked her (joking) if she was done and ready for me to come get her, her response was "Oh, not yet".  Which is as it should be.  They are terribly spoiled there and why they ever want to come home is beyond me.  So then Jacob gets on the phone and when I ask him the same thing, he says "Yeah, probably".  WTF?  So I said, "Well, too bad 'cause you're there until Sunday."  Stupid kid.  Like I was going to get him anyway.  And that, my friends, is just another example of my fine parenting.

Mitch is having dinner with his mom tonight, which is totally my idea and he is not thrilled.  But she's always complaining about how she never gets a chance to spend time with just her kids (meaning: without us evil in-laws and equally evil grandchildren), so I made him call her.  Ha ha!  Why he stays married to me is anybody's guess.

I swear, I'm doing this for her. 

Not because I want a few hours by myself.

Really.

I'd really like to buy Wii Fit, but good luck with that.  It's truly impossible to find.  I'm going to go over to Game Crazy tonight and see if they have any - it's where we got the Wii and a lot of people forget they sell game systems there.  So there's a chance they might have it.  A slim chance, but I'll see.

Not much else to report.  Sorry - it's kind of dull when there are no kids around.

So, it's been very slow here at work, which does not in any way explain why I haven't been updating.  Except to say that the library summer reading game is giving away an Ipod and I want an Ipod.  So when I'm not working, I'm reading.  I even made Mitch sign up, even though he won't read, but I have some crazy notion that I'll read more than the 30 books required to complete my form and then I can start on his.  And seeing how I've ready 5 books in 10 days, it may just happen.

I've been reading Jodi Picoult - which, if you haven't read any of her books, you absolutely should.  They are really good, with always a twist at the end that you didn't see coming, but which totally makes sense.  And I can't put them down once I start, so I go through them really fast.  A definite plus for winning the Ipod. 

Wimbledon has begun so I am also obsessively checking scores on the website.  Forgive me.  But I do love tennis. 

Jacob had a baseball game on Saturday morning, which they lost.  He pitched for 4 innings and did pretty well considering he slept a total of about 4 hours Friday night.  He and Mitch slept out at the Kings field for Cub Scout night and I guess they watched a movie until 2:30 AM and then were up at 6.  According to Mitch, when you are sleeping on a baseball field, you're pretty much up when the sun comes up.  I'll take his word for it.  Sara and I were at home sleeping in bed, as is the norm.

Anyway, after the game, Jake was a disaster.  Once we got home he was crying hysterically - note the lack of sleep explained above.  I'm not sure what his deal was, except that he hit an infield pop fly that was the last out of the game.  So maybe he felt it was his fault they lost?  I don't really know - he wasn't making a lot of sense.  At one point, he came downstairs and threw all of his baseball stuff in the garbage.  He told me he wasn't going to play baseball ever again and I should just sign him up for soccer.  At which point I laughed (maybe not the correct response, I know) and said he was SOL because no kid of mine will be playing soccer.  I told him I would sign him up for Girl Scouts though if he was going to continue acting like this.  He actually laughed a little at that.  And after a few hours, he came down and took his stuff out of the trash.  And then yesterday he was pitching in the backyard.  Maybe he's only crazy in small doses.  He might have another game this week, but we won't know for sure until Wednesday night. 

The kids are going to Ohio this weekend for their visit with Grandad.  I'm not sure when they are coming back - sometime 4th of July weekend I'm sure.  Then their cousins are here for the week and Evelyn is taking all of them to Gettysburg to drop them back off to Jamie and Linda so my kids will be gone for another few days.  Then home for a week and then fishing vacation.  July is very busy for the kids.  Actually, the entire summer is very busy, but they always have fun.  My mom wants them for a week, but I don't know when we'll have time to do that.  Maybe just a long weekend? 

Okay, I'm going to go read now.  I need an Ipod.

Who helped make you the cool person you are today?
Submitted by Amy - Sister Brown Hair Surprise.

Obviously, my very best friend Dana.  She's the only one I know who is cooler than me.  Without her, I don't know what kind of nerd I've have become!

Memorial Day at the father in law's went fine, I suppose.  No one cried (much) and I didn't smack anyone in the head, so therefore, I declare victory.   Cedar Point was awesome and Sara was FINALLY tall enough to ride roller coasters.  She rode everything she was able to and had a great time.  It was very fun, however, I am a little concerned about the future.  What do you do when you have a 7-year-old who isn't the slightest bit afraid of a roller coaster?  It will be hard to entertain her later, that's for sure.  Jacob, in his usual fashion, only rode the Blue Streak, the spinny carnival rides, the driving cars and the bumper cars.  No roller coasters for him, thank you very much.  Mitch's constant nagging him to ride another roller coaster probably isn't going to help.

There were only a few tense moments during the weekend, but I think anytime you have three separate families in one house, things will get tense. 

I took Sara's class to the Kings game on Wednesday and that was also fun.  The weather was good, the Kings won and we were back at school and done by 1:30.  I took three other kids home with me so I did have one point have 5 children in my house, but they all entertained themselves and left me alone, which is of course, all I have ever really wanted anyway. 

I have got to finish the teacher's book this weekend.  But I have a Girl Scout Camporee all day on Saturday - I know, this assistant leader thing truly sucks - and the grand finale Brownie thing on Sunday - CiCi's Pizza and Build-A-Bear.  But then we are done with Brownies until next fall.  Hooray!  Is it really bad that I am so ready for Brownies to be over?  But anyway, at some point in there, I have to get these books done, so I can get it out of my mind.  School's out on June 10 and I am seriously running out of time.

We have new neighbors, but we haven't met them yet.  They are not officially moved in, but they closed on Wednesday.  Let's hope they are better than the last ones.

It's supposed to storm tonight and I'm hoping it does so that Jacob's baseball game is cancelled.  I do not want to go.  It's Friday so that means they play 6 innings, no curfew.  Unless the mercy (read: slaughter) rule comes into effect.  Which it did last week, in our favor, and we were done by 7:30.  Not bad at all.

It's still been slow here at work, and they sent us home early again yesterday.  It's not just us though, there haven't hardly been any obituaries in the paper at all.  Out of town funeral homes, yes, but not hardly any local.  It's very strange.  I've never seen anything like this in the 7 years I've been working here.

Okay, I have to go upstairs to look out the window to do a weather check. 

I have returned from my (drunk) weekend at my very best friend Dana's.  Christ, I haven't had that much to drink in a VERY long time and I certainly did pay the price on Saturday.  I feel bad now because I know I wasn't very much fun on Saturday, but I think it's safe to assume I will never learn the definition of moderation.  Her pinning ceremony was nice, if a little long, but I can't complain because I wasn't the one who had to sit up on the stage under 9000 watt lighting.  She was a trouper.  Piper is adorable and Tom was accommodating, as he always is when I come to visit.  Poor guy.

I had dinner with my aunt and saw all the changes she's made to her house, which was very cool.  It hardly looks like the same place anymore.

I came home early Sunday morning and got back in time for Jacob's party.  Which went very well, other than we had one kid that never showed and the two who never RSVP'd at all.  But I think Jacob had fun.  It's hard to tell with him because the child never shows any emotion at all.  As opposed to his sister who is 100% emotion 100% of the time.  Ah yes, to have completely opposite children.  The joy.

We took him to Red Robin for dinner Monday night, his actual birthday, before Scouts and they sing and bring you ice cream.  He was terribly embaressed, which was terribly funny.  Then I left the take out box on the table, so we couldn't have any leftovers.  Dammit!  Why do I always do that?

Jacob

So there is he refusing to even look at the singing waitresses.  Doofus.

The kids have been playing the Wii - namely Guitar Hero - like idiots.  We're going to have to give those games back to Jenni, so I told the kids they'll have to buy Guitar Hero with their own money.  Christ, they each have over $500 in their savings accounts and then they have money in their wallets.  Buy your own games, you cheap monsters.

Death is occurring slowly around Kalamazoo.  I still don't have a lot to do, but at least there is a little bit. 

We're going to OH for Memorial Day weekend.  Cedar Point, too much family, people who make me and Mitch crazy, ah the fun we'll have.  We have 90 million things to do around the house, and I so hate that we have to give up a long three day weekend and not get anything done.  Oh well. 

More to come later.

Wow, I haven't posted in a LONG time.  Sorry.  I have no excuses because, seriously, no one has died here most of the week.  In fact, Wednesday and Thursday we were sent home early, which NEVER happens.  I mean, I usually leave early, but it's generally my idea and not mandatory.  As an example, I'm leaving at noon today to go to Dana's.  My paycheck next week will suck.

Okay, here's my obligatory birthday party complaint.  So we invite 11 kids to Jacob's birthday party and so far have heard from 6.  WTF?  How hard is it to RSVP and let me know whether or not your kid can come?  I put both my phone numbers and my e-mail address on the invitation, so really, these people don't even have to talk to me if they don't want to.  (But gee, why wouldn't they want to?)  And plus - here's the kicker - 2 of the kids we haven't heard from were kids I sort of made Jacob invite.  I mean, he would invite the whole class if I let him, which of course, I wouldn't let him because I've played that game before, but when we narrowed down the list, I said "What about Bill and Ted?" (obv not their real names).  And he agreed.  Because I don't mind those kids and I don't think they get invited to a lot of parties and I like their moms.  And now they don't even RSVP.  Teach me to do something nice.

But I shouldn't complain because I will be at Dana's and Mitch will be handling the party with a giant pizza mouse.  So I'll be interested to see how many really show up.

So this weekend was all planned and then Mitch called yesterday and said, "I have to work all weekend" to which I said, "I won't be here and you have kids" and then spent over an hour organizing a pick up/drop off/delivery system for the kids for the next 24 hours that rivals a military attack.  But it's all figured out and if anyone falls down on the job, the entire system will crash and burn.

But I'll be at Dana's so they'll have to figure it out.  Maybe I'll turn my phone off.

We bought the kids a Wii with our economic stimulus check.  They heart us very much right now. 

Mitch's dad is here working on my kitchen.  I now have a nearly completed spice cabinet and a nearly completed nook.  My window trim is up and the trim along the top of the backsplash. I heart Mitch's dad very much.

The house next door to us has sold.  Young couple, no kids.  They heart that house.  I question their intelligence.

What personality trait has gotten you in the most trouble? 

Uh, gee, I don't know.  Maybe my sarcasm?  Ya think?

Luckily, I was smart enough to marry someone just as sarcastic as me.  Or I made him this way, it's hard to tell which.  And I usually surround myself with people who get me and find my sarcasm funny and charming.  Though I know that some people don't get it or don't enjoy it.  My son, however, has no sense of humor and totally does not get sarcasm.  He's doomed to disappointment in this house.  Thank God Sara is like us.  She's just as twisted as we are!

What?  A post on a Sunday?  Is this a parellel universe?

No, Mitch just took the kids over the baseball diamonds to hit some balls, because we'll only be there five nights this week for games so there's no reason we shouldn't be there now.  Or at least them.  I would not go.  Sara has been screeching her lungs out all day and it was either she leaves this house or I was going to superglue her mouth shut.  And yes, that's exactly what I told Mitch.

I am 90% done with Mr. Caudill's book - yeah!  I still need a picture of Emily and I'm thinking that I want each kid to sign his/her name on a page near the front, but I can do that when I have lunch duty on Jake's birthday.  I don't know how I'm going to do Mrs. Heiss's, but I don't think I'll be able to use the top 5 lists that Becky gave me.  I can't use them without making the book at least 8-1/2 x 11 and I don't want it to be that big.  So I don't know.  I have to think about it more and wait for the other pictures I ordered to come in.  One of Sara's classmate's mom e-mailed me a bunch of pics she's taken on field trips and such.  Let me just say that I hope Sara and Austin are in class together for the rest of their lives.  At least then I'll know who to contact for great pictures.  And then I won't have to go on any field trips!  Whoo!

I actually got a lot accomplished this weekend - Jacob finally got new shoes, a 20 minute activity.  He actually wanted to buy the same shoes he's had, but they were out of them in his size so the girl brought out a different pair.  He tried them on, said they were okay and wore them out of the store.  I guess he really doesn't care what's on his feet.  I got his birthday party invitations written up, but I forgot to write the end time so I had to open all the envelopes and add it.  Bah!  But if I didn't, these people would never come back for their children ("What? You didn't put an end time on the invitation!  I just assumed it was a 5 day party!) and since Mitch will be the parent in charge, I couldn't do that to him.  So I scrounged up 7 envelopes here at the house that I could use, but I still need to find 3 more.  If I can't use the ones we have at work, I'll have to buy a package of cards and pilfer the envelopes from there.  But then I'll always have more cards than envelopes and I'll be fighting this battle for eternity.  I don't like the precedent this is setting.  I also did about 900 loads of laundry.  Mitch cleaned the bathrooms and floors last night - God bless him!  I guess it's true that eventually he'll get sick of the filth and clean it himself.  I don't think that applies to laundry though.

Okay, I better go throw the roast in the oven so we can eat tonight. 

Ta ta.

Because I'm posting, that's how you know.  Duh.

This week went really well and fast - I actually got caught up on a lot of stuff that has been sitting on my desk for a while.  We had 2 - yes, 2! - nights this week where we didn't have anything going on.  I made one of those a no TV/computer night, so that kids were forced to turn to each other for entertainment.  They played in the backyard for a a while and then went upstairs to play Life.  They love that game.  I think it's too long, but that's just me.

I have gotten myself neck deep in teacher's gifts.  I wanted to take pictures of all the kids from each class and make an album for each teacher.  I have all the pictures taken - the last batch are ordered from Snapfish and on their way - so now I actually have to start the books.  Jacob's teacher's shouldn't be too bad, but I have gotten other people involved in Sara's, so it's a little more complicated.  I hope to actually start Jacob's this weekend.  I'm going to a 24-hour crop next Friday/Saturday so I do have that time to work on them too.  I just hope I can take what's in my head and put it onto the page.  We'll see!

My old neighborhood in Suffolk was hit by those tornadoes earlier this week.  Tony's too.  It looks pretty bad.  I'm very glad we weren't there.  There are no basements out there so where do these people go during a tornado?  I know the conventional thinking is a room with no windows - bathroom, under the stairs, whatever - but it still makes me nervous.  Of course, I've never understand the basement thing.  It always seemed to me like you had a bigger chance of being covered in rubble (a great word, btw) if you're in the basement.  Basically, there is NO good place to be during a tornado except not where the tornado is. 

I've decided to sign Sara up for gymnastics this summer and hope that it will ease the blow when I tell her she is not playing football in the fall.  And not because she's a girl.  She's not playing football this fall because she is a midget dwarf who is only in the 10th percentile for height and 5th percentile for weight for her age.  And that's in the girls.  I'm sure she's way lower for girls and boys.  And I don't want to spend $120 (plus the cost of equipment) to sign her up for football and watch her get mangled at the first practice.  It's not because she's a girl.

It's because she's a little girl.

So she can do gymnastics and swimming next fall.  Oh, and Brownies if she still wants to.  Which she will so I will have to continue to be a assistant leader. I just wrote a $400 check to Girl Scouts because apparently you cannot pilfer the cash from the cookie envelope over a period of 3 weeks and not expect to have to pay that back.  (Shut up - it is not embezzling.)  And the money had to be turned in to the leader today.  That's when she only sold 195 boxes of cookies.  I can't imagine what it will be if she sells more next year.

I just booked Jacob's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.  I reserved for 12.  I don't know how many he is planning to invite or if it will be just boys or boys and girls.  Since I will be out of town, Mitch will be running the show.  He'll get to see what it's like to do a birthday party by yourself!  Actually, since I booked for party for 2:00 PM on a Sunday, I could probably be back in time, but I'm not going to kill myself to do it.  It will be good for him.  I've been doing these parties by myself for years and I've survived.

Have a good weekend!

Whoops - so here it is Friday and I haven't posted all week.  In my defense, this is just how I am.  You're probably used to it by now.  At least you should be.

So Mitch and I took Wednesday off to spend together since it was our 14-year anniversary.  Awww.  If you know us at all, you know it was nothing like that.  We took all the stuff we've been meaning to donate out of the basement and actually DONATED it - what a concept.  Amazing how much space it frees up down there. 

(Sidebar - I have an itch on the bottom of my foot that is DRIVING ME CRAZY.  I keep having to take my shoe off and scratch it and it is interrupting my flow.  Of writing, not anything else.) 

So then we went to Essenhaus for lunch and did a little shopping down in old Amish town.  We came home and then he left to go cut down a tree and I went to get the kids and that was that.  I came into the office to drop off a pie for Marty, got my secretary's day gift card for Applebees and then we all went to dinner at - you guessed it, Applebees.  No sense letting that gift card gather dust I say. 

In other news - is it weird to go your doctor's office and see that they have "Working for us" brochures in the waiting area?  Are they that hard up for employees that they are actively recruiting their patients?  It struck me as odd, but not odd enough to prevent me from checking out their website later to see what they have available.  Well, you never know.  I have no medical background whatsoever, but still.  It could be that my dream job is just waiting for me to get sick and find it.  I'm not sure I understand the logic there.

Little League opening day is tomorrow.  Parade at 10, Sara plays at 11:30 and Jacob plays at 1:30.  Jacob's team scrimmaged another team last night and his coach saw how woefully unprepared they are for real play.  I guess standing around throwing the ball to these kids for the last 3 weeks didn't really pan out.  Turns out he should have been grooming a couple of pitchers and letting this kids hit balls actually thrown by other kids.  Just a thought.  I have a bad feeling my son will end up doing a lot of pitching, since he's probably one of the few kids who has heard of the concept.  I see a lot of time at the batting cages in his future.  I guess we'll have to coach him if his coach doesn't know how. 

After Jacob's game, Mitch and Jacob have a cub scout overnight and then Sara and I will go to her friend's house.  She's going to sleep over and I'm going to scrapbook with Becky.  Fun, fun.